Regardless of our personal view on panhandling, there are very real stories, of real hard working people, who because of the current sluggish economy, have been forced to seek outside help just to put food on their table.
Got change?
There was a little old lady who used to sell pretzels on a street corner for 25 cents each. Every day a young man would leave his office building at lunch time and, as he passed the pretzel stand, he would leave her a quarter, but never take a pretzel. This went on for several years. Except for a thank you, the two of them never spoke.
One day as the young man passed the old lady’s stand and left his quarter as usual, the pretzel lady, without blinking an eye, spoke to him and said: “They’re 35 cents now.”
There seems to be a great divide between those who believe that one should never turn away a person who has their hand stretched out for help -- even if it means giving to a person who is clearly making poor choices -- and those who believe that giving to panhandlers is the worst thing that you can do, if you really want to help them.
Regardless of our personal view on panhandling, there are very real stories, of real hard working people, who because of the current sluggish economy, have been forced to seek outside help just to put food on their table. In fact many of them are in immediate need of food and clothing and a few bucks just to get by.
Over the past few years, I have had the privilege of working closely with a charity called "Feed Your Soul," which has fed thousands of hungry people. Perhaps more importantly, this organization has helped many people, through counseling and intervention, to get back up on their feet, to give them a second chance.
We at Chabad introduce our children, at a very young age, to the "Tzedakah Box." Every day, before they go off to school, they are given a few coins to place in a charity box. When it is full, the money is gathered and given to a worthy cause. It is amazing how fast daily small change can translate into a hot dinner for someone in need.
One of the most amazing truths about giving is the realization of how the charity recipient is the ultimate giver. If it were not for the needy, those who are blessed with means would have no possibility of experiencing the joy of giving!
Starting this week, we are joining "feed your soul" in distributing Tzedakah boxes to local homes and businesses. I encourage you to learn more about Feed Your Soul's good work and join in on this campaign of giving.
The more our heart and our hand share in the mode of giving, the more joy we introduce into our community.
If you would like a Tzedaka box for your home or business, or would like to become a volunteer, or for more information, please email [email protected] and we will arrange for your very own box. In addition, if you walk into a local store and see one of the boxes, please take a moment to place some change in there as every little bit counts!